New network against Long COVID: focus on child health!

New network against Long COVID: focus on child health!

A new type of clinic network to care for children and young people with Long COVID is being launched in Germany. The project, known as PEDNET-LC, aims to establish specialized facilities in all federal states except Brandenburg and Berlin, which will share a central supply center. Loud TUM reports that the network wants to pool knowledge about the frequency, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of Long COVID and similar diseases. The care guidelines are to be developed in these specialized care centers, which are affiliated with renowned clinics and are managed by the departments of child and adolescent medicine as well as child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy.

A central concern of the PEDNET-LC network is to improve diagnostics and therapy, especially for children and young people who suffer from Long COVID or vaccine injuries. In this form, the project represents a unique project in Germany. Those responsible plan to actively involve affected families in the planning and implementation of the project in order to ensure needs-based care Federal Ministry of Health supplemented.

Structure and approach of the network

The PEDNET-LC network will not be limited to pure treatment. He plans to build a comprehensive supply landscape. The measures include conducting clinical studies to optimize the supply situation, creating a knowledge platform and setting up a medical register. An important component is the cross-location data exchange in order to improve and standardize the quality of care.

The project participants include a variety of institutions, including the TUM Klinikum, the Charité, the Robert Koch Institute and numerous university hospitals across Germany. This interdisciplinary collaboration is complemented by numerous cooperation partners such as health insurance companies and specialist societies, which ensures a broad range of expertise. The involvement of different actors, including socio-pediatric centers and parent representatives, is an essential feature of the project.

The impact of Long COVID on children and young people

Long COVID can significantly impact all areas of children and young people’s lives. Psychological stress can also often be observed, which is why support from relatives is of great importance. Coping strategies, such as learning relaxation techniques and movement exercises, can be integrated into everyday life to help those affected. This also includes recommending activities that bring joy, such as board games and radio plays BMG Long COVID describes.

Another important aspect is so-called “pacing”, which means recognizing and maintaining the limits of stress in order to avoid health setbacks. This concept helps children and young people with fatigue and stress intolerance to better manage their energy. Aids and adjustments in everyday life, such as the use of smartwatches to monitor heart rate and the implementation of moments of withdrawal in social activities, can also provide support.

In order to provide the best possible support, relatives should actively collect information about Long COVID and exchange information with experts. Social connections to peers play a crucial role, which is why regular contact and exchange with other affected people are just as important for the psychosocial health of young people.

Overall, the PEDNET-LC network project shows how important coordinated and interdisciplinary care is in order to counteract the lasting effects of Long COVID on children and young people. The implementation and further expansion of this specialized care landscape could represent a decisive advance in the treatment of those affected.